REVIEW: SOUNDBOKS GEN 4, THE DOMINATOR IN LARGE SCALE WIRELESS SPEAKERS

When SOUNDBOKS reached out to me to check out their new upcoming speaker, of course I said yes! Imagine a speaker that doesn’t just play music but actually becomes the party wherever you go. Meet the SOUNDBOKS 4 (“SB4”), a portable powerhouse designed to withstand any and all drops and falls but still be able to deliver the best and loudest sound experience. More than just a speaker, the SB4 is also a versatile audio solution with its professional connectivity options specifically for musicians, mobile DJs and anyone needing a PA system on the go. Join us in this review as we dive into the heart of this extraordinary speaker and see what really makes the SB4 the best in the biz. But before we do, I was lucky enough to have a chance to ask Jesper Thiel Thomsen the CEO & Co-Founder of SOUNDBOKS some questions about the company’s origin story and where it plans to go in the near future.

Q&A WITH SOUNDBOKS CEO & CO-FOUNDER:

Can you share the story that inspired you to develop SOUNDBOKS, the loudest and most durable portable speaker in the industry?

– We started SOUNDBOKS in 2015 – three friends trying to build the most powerful speaker for Roskilde Festival in Denmark, literally sourcing components and hand-building test speakers in our parents’ gardens. We knew the speakers needed to be durable enough to withstand a multi-day festival with unknown weather and all-night parties, loud enough to be heard, portable enough to go anywhere (and therefore battery powered), and super simple to set up and start playing music. After the first festival, we had friends, family and even strangers coming to us asking if they could buy the speakers, and that’s when SOUNDBOKS was born.

SOUNDBOKS has gained a reputation and a cultic following in Scandinavia. What plans does SOUNDBOKS have to garner admiration from the US?

– We are very excited about the potential in the US market, and we plan to create a strong following there, just as we have in Scandinavia. We are actively expanding our distribution channels in the US, specifically partnering with major retailers and enhancing our e-commerce presence to ensure SOUNDBOKS is readily available to customers across the country. Building a community is extremely important to us and we intend to do that in a number of ways.

With so much competition in the large-scale speaker market, how do you see the SOUNDBOKS speaker line evolving in the future to continue trouncing its competition?

– One of our biggest assets for growth is the SOUNDBOKS community and delivering the best experience possible. We firmly believe in our ability to learn from their experiences and we apply that into all aspects of our innovation. In keeping with our core values of portability, simplicity, durability, and loudness, SOUNDBOKS will continue to revolutionize consumer perception of loud portable speakers.

Are there any plans on the horizon that expand the line with more affordable variants? Will the Gen series ever see app customizable RGB lighting? A new SOUNDBOKS fan (me) is dying to know.

– We are committed to listening to the community and providing the best possible experience, as I said before. Your voice is what drives our innovation pipeline. In addition, we plan to surprise the community with unexpected features that will enhance the experience. Anything and everything is on the table, and I would say, be excited!

Does SOUNDBOKS have any plans to collaborate with various music, film tv and multi-media artists with limited edition colorways going further than just speaker grill color changes?

– Oh this is a very exciting topic! The short answer is YES! We’re always looking for ways to excite the community and these opportunities with limited offerings are always on our list. We love finding new partners who share our values and goals, so stay tuned to our channels. We have just hired in an entirely new commercial team focused on exciting areas of growth for SOUNDBOKS. Partnerships and collaborations are but a few of their exciting projects to come.

Sustainability is increasingly important in consumer electronics. What steps, if any, does SOUNDBOKS take to minimize its environmental impact and footprint, from product design to materials and manufacturing?

– We recognize that sustainability is of growing importance and we are committed to minimizing our environmental impact across all aspects of our operations. This is, of course, an ongoing journey. The fact that SOUNDBOKS speakers are built on a swappable battery platform, rather than a built-in platform, makes them more durable than other speakers. We also do our utmost to keep older generations of SOUNDBOKS speakers running. One of my favorite things is seeing Gen 1 and Gen 2 speakers still pumping out serious sound at Roskilde every year!

DESIGN & BUILD:

Built for abuse and fine tuned for sound the SB4 is a 35.5 pound high fidelity brute in the loudspeaker world. Encased in a practically indestructible veneer covered poplar wood housing, the SB4 comes armored with powder coated aluminum rails that completely protect all external angles of the speaker.

On the front resides an interchangeable steel front grill that confidently shields the two 10″ woofers and 1″ compression driver tweeter from any harm but allows the speaker to perform uninhibitedly. This snap on grill can easily be removed, using the supplied tool, and replaced for customization or if damaged. SOUNDBOKS encourages their SB4 community to let your visually creative freak flag fly with their speaker grills. I’m hoping to get mine custom painted by one of my favorite artists, Luke Chueh.

Equipped with two opposite mounted flush steel handles, transporting the SB4 is a snap vertically or horizontally. These handles also double as Pulse Reflex ports that act like two additional woofers giving the SB4 a louder and more refined bass response at any volume. Internally, the SB4 is powered by three 72W RMS Infineon MERUS Audio eximo® class D amplifiers tuned with a next gen adaptive DSP profile and a proprietary bass enhancer to further showcase that “Everlasting Bass“.

On one side of the SB4 you will find three controls. One for power, a large fluid-motion metal wheel for volume and a red bridge button for quick and easy linking with other SOUNDBOKS speakers (up to 5 total) using SKAA network connectivity.

To further fortify this tank of a speaker, every corner of the SB4 is adorned with replaceable racket-ball sized silicone spheres that act as shock absorption for any falls or tumbles. Another benefit of these corner balls is they act as a vibration buffer to keep the SB4 from rumbling across a hard surface when the bass is really kicking. I personally appreciate the use of silicone over cheap rubber, which has a tendency to degrade over a short period of time leaving a gooey sticky mass that streaks, stains and damages carpets, floors and other surfaces.

Located on the opposite side of the controls is the battery port that makes it extremely easy to swap out a dead battery for a freshly charged one. Simply unplug the power plug on the battery, pull on the handle and reverse the process with a recharged BatteryBOKS. On the back of the SB4 is the speaker’s serial number badge with additional wired connectivity ports located in the lower area. Lastly the SB4 comes with a PA stand mount on the bottom that will allow you drop the speaker on the SOUNDBOKS tripod stand or any other PA stand that uses the same diameter connection.

SOUNDBOKS is so confident with their speaker durability that they even have a TikTok channel dedicated to destroying (or attempting to destroy) their speakers by throwing them down stairwells and having concert goers beat them up at various festivals. Please note that NO ONE is encouraging you or any SOUNDBOKS owners to willfully destroy their expensive speakers but it’s nice to see that the company is willing to do it on camera so no one else has to take a loss.

SB4 is also blessed with a dustproof and water resistance rating of IP65, which gives protection against low pressure water jets from any direction, as well as condensation and water spray. This IP65 protection also insures that the internal electronics are well protected from “Singing In the Rain” or poolside cannon ball splashes but remember, do not, I repeat, DO NOT throw your SB4 into a lake or the pool. You will be sad and left wanting.

Not leaving well enough alone, SOUNDBOKS also has a Backpack accessory available online that will seriously catapult the portability of the SB4 speaker to another level. Feel like a music filled stroll through the mountains or a scooter ride down the Venice Beach bike path? This is all you need to make that a music filled journey a reality.

CONNECTIVITY:

The SB4 features a variety of ways to connect. The most popular will be via Bluetooth 5.0 which easily pairs up with any smartphone, tablet or Bluetooth-enabled devices. Coupled with the free SOUNDBOKS app (available on iOS and Android), music is only a few clicks away. With the app, the SB4 can easily come to life with audibly tuned EQ presets or customizable settings that you can adjust on the fly. If you have multiple SOUNDBOKS speakers, the app will easily give you the power to link them together for stereo and even 360 sound capabilities. Another great feature with multiple speaker connectivity is SB4’s True Wireless Stereo feature that enhances audio quality, latency issues and spatial separation.

Conveniently located at the lower back of the SB4 you will find the ability for wired connectivity by way of two stereo 3.5mm auxiliary (IN & OUT AUX) ports and two XLR/TRS combo pro-grade audio jack input options for microphones, instruments and/or mixers. If you are a mobile DJ, a singer songwriter or even a public speaker, connectivity is the easiest with the SB4.

USE:

Once Bluetooth is connected, a quick jump to the SOUNDBOKS app and you’re ready to roll. Scrolling through the default presets makes it easy to activate three (3) soundstages that easily elevate whatever style of music you’re listening to. Customizable EQ settings are also clutch when you shift your musical preferences from Jamie Jones and Duke Dumont vibes to a more Lana Del Rey kind of mood.

The SB4 is large and can be unwieldy, reminding me of the days when we would break into an abandon warehouse and lug bass cabinets in for an underground rave…but I digress, even though the SB4 is big, it is surprisingly easy to handle by way of its well placed handles that can actually allow the speaker to be carried like a suitcase.

Not sure if you know but the SB4 is loud. No, I mean it is really LOUD, to the tune of neighbor-angering 126dB, which is louder than any portable speaker in the industry. What really makes this decibel slap to your eardrums impressive is when the SB4 is maxed out, the speaker delivers clear highs, filling mids and rich expanding lows that are void of any clapping woofer distortion or treble tearing screeches. One of my go-to “testing” tracks is Billie Eilish – “Bury A Friend” which belts out delicate vocals and vision vibrating basslines that can easily showcase the limits of incapable speakers. Needless to say, the SB4 passed this test with flying colors. I should point out that I could only go half way as any louder would really piss off all my neighbors on all floors and give my cats permanent ear damage.

Like the Energizer bunny, the SB4 keeps going and going when it comes to upping the volume, which is probably why the volume wheel turns freely without an end. I really loved that SOUNDBOKS maxed out the volume at “11” which is an Easter Egg nod to Nigel Tufnel in the legendary 80’s film, “Spinal Tap“.

BATTERY:

One of the most noteworthy features of the SB4 is its portability and the swappable battery system that many competitors just cannot compete with. After only 3.5 hours of charging, battery life for this behemoth is an impressive 40 hours at mid-volume, which keeps you safe from a visit from the police. But if you’re craving your music maxed out at 11, then you’ll have a hefty 6 hours at full volume. Another amazing feature is the push button battery level gauge that will easily let you know how much time you have left before needing a charge.

SOUNDBOKS SPEAKER TIMELINE:

With the SOUNDBOKS 4 being my first physical introduction to this speaker line, I personally could not give an accurate comparison against older models. Above you can see the complete timeline of this ever-evolving speaker from day one, eight years ago, to the present. In accordance with the chart and from speaking with the company, the Gen 4’s upgrades include everything great from 2021’s Gen 3 model along with improved audio tuning that fully takes advantage of its power, a 20% increase in battery life at max 11 volume and a snap-on removable grill with a smaller grid pattern making it easier to customize.

FINAL THOUGHTS & CONCLUSION:

LOVED:

With a max volume of 126dB, the almighty abundance of dance drenched sound is extraordinary and the loudest in the industry.
Swappable battery packs keep the wireless party going longer than any of the competitors.
Excellent IP65 dust and water resistance make way for many full moon parties in the desert or splash filled drum circles at the beach.
With the durability of a Tonka truck and the ability to survive a Mike Tyson beatdown, the SB4 is definitely built to last.
Punchy deep bass complimented with effervescent highs that do not distort when your volume is at 11 is amazing.
Versatile and easy connectivity means portable sound for ANY amateur DJ, Spotify maven or guitar plucking musician on the go.
Speaker bridging capabilities (up to 5) means a raver wall of sound is 100% possible.
Firmware upgradeable.
An industry busting generous 2+1 year warranty when purchased directly from SOUNDBOKS, which means a total of 3 years of coverage.
A still generous 2 year warranty when purchased from authorized retailers.
Mind-blowing 45 day satisfaction guarantee return policy with free return shipping.

NOT SO MUCH:

Price! BUT you definitely get more for what you pay for.
Older Bluetooth 5.0 vs. newer 5.3, which can hopefully be upgraded with a firmware update.
This beast is heavy (35.5 lbs.) and bulky (25.6″ × 17″ × 13″), but manageable and easily remedied with the proprietary Backpack accessory.
Accessories can be a bit pricey, but currently are 50% with purchase on SOUNBOKS’ website.

CONCLUSION:

During the peak of Covid-19, I remember afternoons where neighboring apartments would play there favorite music from their patios, for everyone to enjoy. One neighbor even went so far as to hire a Mariachi band that serenaded his sick girlfriend from the street. I WISH I had the SOUNDBOKS 4 at the ready for those lockdown afternoon music sessions!

So let me be clear, the SOUNDBOKS 4 is not for everyone, BUT for those that persevere to amplify their favorite playlists, this is your AMG G-Wagon of wall busting sound. Yes, audible fidelity can easily be micro-scrutinized by the snootiest and snobbiest eardrums, but honestly, when you have this much musical horsepower and audio-tuned torque under the speaker (hood), all that matters is if what you’re playing sounds good and boy will it sound great. You don’t buy the SB4 to play Chopin’s Nocturne op.9 No.2 in an effort to impress a champagne sipping entourage (even though the SB4 would deliver beautifully), NO! You get the SB4 because you want your neighbors’ walls to rattle and your backyard party, campsite and/or tailgate to be encompassed in a tsunami of high fidelity sound. Let’s also not forget the industry-shattering limited warranty (2 and 3 years) with a 45 day satisfaction guarantee that truly crowns the SB4 as the dominator in the portable speaker world.

At present my SB4 resides on the floor plugged into my mixer and turntables with a wedge (to direct audio upwards). In a wish-granting world I would love to see a mid-height stand with a friction-restricting wobble mount that could allow you to direct the SBG4 in any mid-level direction. Outside of this, the SB4 is a welcomed beast in my stable of sound and will live loudly at the next party in the park.

You can purchase the SOUNDBOKS 4 using the below links:

SOUNDBOKS website: SOUNDBOKS 4 / Accessories
Amazon website: SOUNDBOKS 4

SPECS:

SOUND:

Speakers: (2) 10″ 96dB woofers & (1) 1″ 104dB compression driver
Amplifier: (3) 72w RMS class D Merus Audio eximo® amplifiers with Advanced Bass DSP tuning
Acoustics: Effective frequency range: 40Hz – 20kHz
EQ Settings: Custom EQ or preset optimized sound modes (Bass+, Power, Indoor) True stereo roles (left / right / mono)

CONNECTIVITY:

Bluetooth: 5.0 TeamUP connection with option to bridge up to 5 SOUNDBOKS speakers using SKAA Network
Wired: (2) Combo microphone/instrument (XLR, 1/4”) input / (2) 3.5mm stereo input/output

BUILD:

Weight: 35.5 lbs.
Materials: Poplar hardwood cabinet, powder-coated aluminum frame, powder-coated steel grill and handles, silicone ball corners.